Runaway Quilter's

Yes, that's right. I ran away from home and quilted! I posted about it here before I left.


I was supposed to post my Dazzling Dessert on the 20th of September. However, things changed. I decided to "runaway" instead. I'm sure Holly told you how she couldn't find me. She sent out the quilt police!
**Edit: I sent Holly an e-mail telling her that I would be out of town the day she scheduled me to post about the dessert. She accidentally overlooked the e-mail, so she called me and asked me to do it another day. :)**

After a few days of searching. the quilt police turned me in. There I was in the hills of Kentucky quilting to my heart's content. Holly assured me that everything was okay. She was just glad that I was safe and doing something fun. Holly said I could post my dessert on the 27th. She thought it would be fun for me to give you more information about the retreat and the teachers that teach.

As I said before, the retreat is held at a Convent. It is still a convent, but it also has Mount St. Joseph Convention and Retreat Center.


Runaway Quilters started out as a "teaching" retreat. The purpose was to teach people methods and ideas on how to go back to their Guilds to teach others about quilting. Now it is just for fun and enjoyment for the 120 quilters that come every year.

The teachers that teach at Runaway are either quilt shop owners, teachers in their guilds, or home extension agents. I have taught at Runaway several times. It is a very rewarding experience, especially when your students bring their finished projects to show and tell the next year.

The retreat has classes all day Wednesday and Thursday, and half-day classes on Friday. If you choose not to take a class you can Sit and Sew on your own project. I prefer to take a class, but that's just me. I meet more people that way.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served by the wonderful cooking staff at the center. This makes it so nice: no cleaning, no cooking. You truly feel like you are "running away".

So, now that I have told you a little bit more about Runaway Quilters, I will show you what classes I took.


This is Betty Cummings. She owns a fantastic quilt shop in the quaint little town of Boonville, Indiana. which is 20 minutes from Evansville, IN. I have been shopping with Betty for the past 11 years. We have become great friends while helping me choose fabrics for quilts. I have learned so much from her. She will be updating her website soon. Her husband no longer has the tearoom, but he did make a cookbook with his fabulous recipes. My favorite dessert was his Italian Cream Cake, which is what I chose for my dessert for Holly's blogable feast!

The quilt Betty and I are holding is Cottage Flower from Thimbleberries. Betty had this quilt on display in her booth when she was a vendor at a quilting event. She had kits, so I bought one. When I saw she was offering this as a class, I was excited because I didn't have to go out and buy anything!

Here are my friends, Mari Lynn, and Dawn and Marilyn (mother and daughter).





The other class I took was "Trail Mix". This is a Mabeth Oxenrider design. You may know Mabeth as a quilt designer for American Patchwork and Quilting This design was in the magazine, and then she made it into a pattern.

My friend, Jean Shaw, taught this quilt. Jean has been teaching at Runaway for the past 11 years. She is the former owner of The Quilter's Attic in Goodlettsville, TN.

Here are Terry and me sewing away on our little trails.

The following are quilts that have been taught at past Runaway Quilter's.

This is Monterry Medallion taught by Jean Shaw, made and quilted by Terry.



This is Wedding March. This was taught, made, and quilted by Terry.


This is Triangle Parade. Terry did this as a mystery quilt. Terry made and quilted this quilt.

I truly had a fun time at Runaway Quilters. We did, as we always do, stay up late and sew. After I got home I felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation, but it was great fun.

Be sure to read my next post about my Delicious Dessert. It's quick, easy, and tastes great.